Australia news LIVE: PM rejects call for Indigenous child sex abuse royal commission; Qantas gives Chairman’s membership to big investors

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  • PM rejects Dutton’s call for royal commission on Indigenous child sex abuse
  • Israel tells troops they will soon see Gaza ‘from inside’
  • This morning’s headlines at a glance

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Treasurer slams ‘beat up’ over Aly, Husic comments

Former treasurer Wayne Swan says claims the Labor government is split on its position on Israel are a “complete beat up”.

It comes after two Labor ministers said civilians in Gaza are being subjected to collective punishment by Israel, exposing tensions within the Albanese government over its position.

Former treasurer Wayne Swan at Labor’s national conference.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

He was asked if the government’s support of Israel was undermined.

“That is not true, that is just a complete beat up,” Swan told Nine’s Today Show this morning.

He said the Ed Husic and Anne Aly’s statements don’t depart in any way from the government’s position.

Israel has a right to exist, it has a right to defend itself, it has a right to respond to Hamas, it has a right to eliminate Hamas and all members of the Labor Party share that ambition.

But they also say, and this is a complex issue, that we should avoid the loss of innocent life and we should do our best to ensure that those affected by the ramifications of there are looked after.

That is all they have said. They have gone no further.

I think people ought to be very careful about playing politics with this.”

He said people should be “capable of having a discussion about the rights of Palestinians and what is happening there, whilst reaffirming our strong support for Israel”.

Nationals whip calls for Gaza ceasefire as ALP ministers accuse Israel of collective punishment

Two federal government ministers say civilians in Gaza are being subjected to collective punishment by Israel, exposing tensions within the Albanese government over its position on the war, as a federal Labor senator called for landmarks to be lit in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

Industry Minister Ed Husic and Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly, who are the only Muslims in federal cabinet, on Thursday called for Australia to step up support for Palestinians facing a humanitarian crisis. They said Palestinian-Australians felt their lives mattered less in the unfolding political reaction to the Israel-Hamas war.

Early Childhood Education Minister Dr Anne Aly and Minister for Industry Ed Husic during question time on Thursday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

While the Coalition said the ministers’ comments showed Labor was divided over the conflict, Nationals whip Mark Coulton also departed from the opposition’s stance that Israel should show no restraint in retaliating to Hamas attacks.

“There should be greater focus on the plight of Palestinians who are caught up in this conflict,” he told this masthead.

“My greatest concern is for the civilians and children being killed or maimed, and that there are so many people in danger. I am of the belief that there should be a ceasefire until a plan for a humanitarian solution can be worked out.”

Here’s the full story. 

PM rejects Dutton’s call for royal commission on Indigenous child sex abuse

Back in Australia, Anthony Albanese has dismissed a Coalition call for a royal commission into child sex abuse in Indigenous communities as a political stunt.

Several peak Indigenous groups also rejected the call, describing it as an attempt to politicise child sexual abuse and play into the “basest negative perceptions of some people about Aboriginal people and communities”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said child sex abuse was a serious issue but it did not just affect one group or place.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor on Thursday and joined Labor in defeating Dutton’s call for a debate on a royal commission and an audit of spending on Indigenous programs.

The two ideas – advocated by opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman and leading No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – were key pillars of the Coalition’s Indigenous policy as it mobilised against the Voice to parliament.

Learn more about this here. 

Israel tells troops they will soon see Gaza ‘from inside’

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country’s defence minister told ground troops to “be ready” to invade, though he didn’t say when.

Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a delivery of aid from Egypt.

Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip.Credit: AP

Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza stitched wounds by the light of mobile phones, and others used vinegar to treat infected wounds.

The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for a devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel almost two weeks ago.

Here’s more on this story, but for the latest updates tune into our dedicated live blog here.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning, and thanks for joining us this morning.

It’s Friday, October 20. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started:

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed a Coalition call for a royal commission into child sex abuse in Indigenous communities as a political stunt.
  • Sydney and Melbourne alone will need to build at least another 1.3 million homes to accommodate an extra 3 million residents, a new report finds.
  • Two federal government ministers say civilians in Gaza are being subjected to collective punishment by Israel.
  • Trade Minister Don Farrell faced accusations of hypocrisy after appointing a former Labor senator and union ally to a trade job in San Francisco.
  • Full-time workers are starting to pay the price of the Reserve Bank’s aggressive increases in interest rates, with tens of thousands of jobs disappearing across the country.
  • Senior investors at one of Qantas’ biggest shareholders are members of the airline’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge, usually reserved for high-profile figures.
  • Cybercriminals are coaching victims, recruiting money mules and ramping up attacks, but banks are in the business of making this an expensive exercise.
  • Overseas, G7 countries will this week discuss plans to ban Russian diamonds from their markets.

Let’s get into it.

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